Poem 330: 9/10/11

I remember 14 years ago

braces with a smile

laughter that could scare a bear

or resemble gentle fire

I remember when we first were friends

and how since then we've grown

but most of all I'll nev' forget the way 

you've remained close

For years have passed and time has taken

me across the world

its carried you down career paths

with men and work and school

but even though the years go by

and life molds us to change

a dearest friend, you'll always be

True Friend, a loving name

Poem 329: Another new day

This morning I woke up and realized 

today's a one-and-only day

it will not happen once again in ten years

or in 1 million ten. 

I brushed my teeth and ate some grub 

and looked down at my clock

and noticed it was almost noon, which meant

the day would soon be up

So I jumped into my 4x4 

and went out for a spin

I bought a dozen donuts, 

climbed a mountain, juggled pins

I danced and sang into the night

exhausting all my time

I didn't want to waste this day

I had made up my mind

No matter what it took, I wouldn't

let the day be lost

so I ran my errands, met with friends

and when the clock sang: "done"

I climbed into my bed to dream

thinking that I had won

but something strange began to form 

deep inside my head

For when I woke the next morning

I realized once again

today's a one-and-only day

and so the day began

Poem 328: Canceled

I looked forward to this moment

and looked forward to this day

I counted out the hours, minutes

seconds 'till this great "hurray!"

And now that the time's come at last

I thought that I'd be glad

instead I'm sitting all alone

"canceled" on and feeling sad. 

Poem 327: Rivers

Oh dancing river

sing to me

a song about belief

How do you know that you will reach

the ocean that you seek?

And what dear river 

do you know

of worry or complaint?

You throw all cares aside and travel

as you find a way.

Now simple current 

streaming close

I'll lean upon your strength

I'll gather up the words you say 

to hold them in my brain

For wisest river 

you are aged

far beyond your years

and listening to your song I'm sure

I'm stronger when you're near

So flowing friend

I'll rest by you

and listen to your song

Learning from your active faith 

Driven, I'll carry-on

Poem 326: Math-inundated

Last night for hours more than fingers

I put nose in book

penciled paper with math words

and symbols 'till I shook

This morning once again I woke

and solved equations long

I worked out problems evens, odd

and even sang math songs.

And when I wake tomorrow morn'

I'm bound to do the same

for math is all I have right now

it's work, but also play!

Poem 325: Fermented Grapes and Currents

I drank them all, aged as they were

100 grapes or more

I swallowed them and breathed their sent

as if they were brand new.

Then after I had drank my fill

or perhaps more than full

I jumped right off a large high rock

into a deep wet blue.

And there I floated with eyes up

towards the cloudless sky

my body careless swam with ease

my mind so light it flew.

And then when I had woken up

from this old-aged-grape state

I shook my head and climbed back towards

the roots from which I grew

I threw out empty jars of wine

and drained full bottles dry

I poured them into rushing streams

and was what I once knew

Poem 324: No one but Ebby

The questions were given

the answers received 

leaving me alone with me

and so with my most well known friend

I traversed the trails.

No other followed behind

as I hiked the path

and not one walked before

I journeyed down the rocky road

just my dog and me alone

When we'd arrived 

down at the sight

where the river grew to deep

We doused our souls in refreshing cool

and soaked our weary feet 

Poem 323: Sunken mattresses

In the middle it begins to dip

drawing me into its center

no matter how I lay or stretch

I sink in even closer

If I start out lying on the edge

then as the night draws on

I find myself right back again

sunk into the center.

So tonight my mind has been made up

my plan for sleep is this

I'll will not use this old mattress

I'll take the floor instead.

Poem 322: Packing Boxes

Stuff is all around me

piled high in leaning towers

reaching beyond the horizon of view

bending

stretching high above the pinnacle of reach

asking me to give up

give away

recycle

and throw back to my past.

My past in forms of paper mache,

hand prints, 

noodle picture frame crafts 

and many other Things.

Stuff is piled around me

defining me 

begging me to remove my labels 

and delve into the unknown land of emptiness

nothingness

I am surrounded by a me of past

a me I long to gather up and hold on to

a me that future rejects as ancient

old

unwanted

spent

a worthless pile of crap

I am surrounded by this and love it

I loathe its mass, and despise its volume

but relish its memories and emotions

But, now it's time to say good-bye

to grow older once more

and move away from the past

keeping it only in mind

without memento 

and with the pain of moving forward 

with nothing

Good-bye childhood

college

my first love

Hello hollowed life waiting to be filled

I am surrounded by...

Poem 321: Foot Fungus

Foot fungus is really quite stinky

its yellow and gross to embrace

If I tickle your toes I'll be sorry

that fungus might intoxicate

Do not dance with those shoes unbuckled

or will me to move my band aid

I'm not tempted to touch you, I'm sorry

Perhaps this far distance is safe.